DT News - UK - Interview: BSPD 2018 is all about well-being

Dental Tribune International

Tue. 11 September 2018

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The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) Annual Conference is currently being held and will run until 14 September in Dundee’s Caird Hall. Dental Tribune UK & Ireland spoke with Dr Liz Roebuck, Vice Chair of the BSPD, about what the main goals of BSPD 2018 are and what dental professionals can gain from attending.

Who should attend the BSPD 2018 conference, and why?
It’s relevant for all members of the dental team who work with children and young people, no matter where their specific interests lie. It provides the opportunity to hear experts talking about developments within their own sphere of work, to be challenged by some of the issues young people face today and, above all, to consider how these things relate to and impact on our own areas of work. What better place to do this than on the relaxed shores of Dundee, where the RRS Discovery is berthed, and where the opening of the V&A museum of design will soon take place. These two concepts were very much our inspiration for the scientific programme, themed “Discovery and design”, and even for some of the social activities.

What are some of the highlights of this year’s conference?
Overall, the word that best captures the essence of BSPD 2018 in both the scientific and the social programmes is “well-being”, well-being not only of children and their families, but also of members of the dental team, all of which are close to the heart of BSPD.

The first day, a study day organised by the BSPD Teachers’ Branch, seeks to address the effect of bullying and harassment, and violence and stress. These experiences are not new and their significant adverse impact on physical, emotional and mental well-being has long been recognised. However, despite this, there seems to have been a reticence to tackle these subjects head-on.

The theme of mental health and well-being continues on the second day, and we’re delighted to welcome Dame Sue Bailey, Chair of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition, who is addressing the topic of mental health and well-being in children and young people. You might be tempted to ask how this is relevant to paediatric dentistry. My response: in many ways. A young person with low self-esteem and anxiety may not have the confidence to accept treatment. Equally, appearance, poor oral health, pain and infection can have a negative effect on quality of life and self-esteem. Of course, it’s not unknown for dental treatment to be cited as the precipitator of the anxiety! All a bit of a vicious circle. How we deliver dental care in the early years of life, our support and management of the child with caries, and the tools and techniques we use are absolutely crucial to long-term oral health and dental experience. This is where the FiCTION [Filling Children’s Teeth: Indicated Or Not] trial has potential to impact.

FiCTION compared the success of different caries management options for primary teeth. It is a topic of importance to us all, with huge implications for dental care and well-being, for both the individual and services as a whole. We’re very excited that BSPD is hosting three presentations on this important randomised controlled trial.

I can’t leave the scientific programme without mentioning the prize presentations and posters delivered by the younger members of the society, snapshots of the governance, research and clinical projects they have been working on. They are an inspiration.

In terms of social events, things like the pub quiz on the night of Wednesday, 12 September, will provide us all with a chance to relax, catch up with “auld acquaintances”, meet new people, share ideas and, of course, compete, in a friendly fashion, for the coveted Angel of the North trophy.

Is there anything in particular that you would like attendees to take away from BSPD 2018?
Interesting question! What would I, and indeed the members of the organising committee as a whole, like everyone to take from the conference? In a nutshell, to leave feeling relaxed, inspired and encouraged—relaxed by having had time away from the coalface, so to speak, inspired by what they’ve heard and discussed, and encouraged to put at least one new thing into practice.

Regarding consideration of child patients’ well-being, is there a way in which dental professionals can assist with any mental health issues that they might have?
I’ve already touched on some of the areas where mental and oral health is related. We know that mental health issues are increasing across all age groups and that there is a broadening emphasis in education, health and social services, and third-sector agencies in the UK to work together to put measures in place to support children and their families in the areas of mental health and resilience. We believe that dentistry is very much a part of this network. We’re not in the business of diagnosing mental health issues, but we are often in a position to recognise issues as they develop, to encourage these to be addressed, and to manage the individual and their oral health needs sensitively. Dental professionals can encourage and empower children and young people to take charge of their own oral health, which in turn can be empowering in other areas of life.

2018 marks the 60-year anniversary of the founding of BSPD. How far has it come in that time?
The society has in many ways changed over the past 60 years. It roots can be traced back to a study group 66 years ago, described as an “informal gathering of enthusiasts”. The group became known as the London Society for the Study of Dentistry for Children in 1958, with the aim of “improving the oral health of children and encouraging the highest standards of clinical care”.

While the name has since changed, what hasn’t changed is the motivation for meeting. It has remained a gathering of enthusiasts, albeit a rather larger, more formally constituted group, all of whom are passionate about improving children’s oral health and promoting high standards of clinical care. However, what has emerged over the years is a growing recognition that, to achieve this, oral healthcare needs to be accessible and that a child’s welfare and well-being, in all senses, must be a primary concern. We want to make healthcare accessible, foster inter-agency cooperation in the UK, and make sure that health and well-being is recognised as an issue that cannot be treated by working in silos, but rather by being treated holistically.

Thank you very much for the interview.

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